Ukrainian military commander Valery Zaluzhny is disappointed with the performance of military recruitment agencies, stressing the need to mobilize more resources for the war.
"I am not satisfied with the work of the recruitment offices. If I were satisfied, we would not be here discussing the draft mobilization," Ukrainian military commander Valery Zaluzhny said at his first wartime press conference on December 26.
Mr Zaluzhny's comments came a day after the Ukrainian parliament published a draft law containing reforms to the military recruitment program, including a proposal to reduce the age for men to join the army from 27 to 25. The publication of the draft has sparked controversy on social media in Ukraine.
Reforms are a sensitive issue for many Ukrainians weary of a nearly two-year war with no end in sight. Ukraine saw tens of thousands of men volunteer to join the army in the early months of the conflict with Russia, but that enthusiasm has waned.
Commander of the Ukrainian army Valery Zaluzhny. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine
Last week, President Volodymyr Zelensky said the military had proposed raising 450,000-500,000 more soldiers for the war with Russia. Roman Kostenko, secretary of the Ukrainian parliament’s national security committee, also said the military needed 500,000 new soldiers to cover casualties and form combat units in the next 12 months. The lawmaker warned Ukrainians who were eligible to serve not to try to avoid it.
Mr. Zaluzhny admitted that this figure is necessary but it is not a proposal of the military, but a master plan and will be added gradually. The Ukrainian commander added that he would never disclose and discuss this figure publicly.
"We welcome any means that can help meet our recruiting needs," he said.
Mr Zaluzhny oversaw Ukraine’s counteroffensive, which, although it has not achieved the expected results, is well known to many Ukrainians for pushing Russian forces out of Kiev in early 2022 and for being behind two successful counteroffensives last year.
Tensions between Mr Zaluzhny and President Zelensky flared in November after the Ukrainian commander said Ukraine’s war was at a stalemate, a comment that drew sharp criticism from the president’s office. Mr Zelensky and his allies have been more upbeat about the war, saying Ukraine can and will push Russian forces back from territory it controls.
Thanh Tam (According to Reuters, RT )
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